How to Replace Front Sway Bar Link 2001-05 BMW 325Xi
Created on: 2019-07-10
This 1A Auto video shows you how to replace the sway bar links on your 97-06 BMW 3 Series. Check it out to learn how to do it yourself!
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step 1 :Removing the Wheel
- Loosen the 17mm lug bolts with the vehicle on the ground
- Raise the vehicle with a floor jack
- Secure the vehicle on jack stands
- Remove the lug bolts
- Pull off the wheel
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step 2 :Removing the Sway Bar LInk
- Remove the 16 mm nut from the upper sway bar link, using a T27 or T30 socket to hold the stud in place
- Remove the lower 16 mm nut in the same fashion
- Remove the sway bar link
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step 3 :Installing the Sway Bar Link
- Insert the lower sway bar end into the sway bar
- Install the 15 mm nut on the sway bar link stud
- The studs on the 1A Auto sway bar link can be held with a 14 mm wrench
- Insert the upper sway bar link into the strut assembly
- Install the 15 mm nut onto the upper sway bar link stud
- Torque both 15 mm nuts to 47 ft-lb
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step 4 :Installing the Wheel
- Slide the wheel into place
- Start the 17mm lug bolts by hand
- Tighten the lug bolts preliminarily
- Lower the vehicle partially to the ground
- Tighten the lug bolts to 95 foot-pounds in a crossing or star pattern
- Lower the vehicle completely
Tools needed
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14mm Wrench
Socket Extensions
Torque Wrench
16mm Wrench
15mm Socket
Rust Penetrant
16mm Socket
T30 Socket
T27 Torx Socket
Ratchet
What's up guys? I'm Andy from 1AAuto. In this video I'm going to show you how to replace front sway bar links on this 2001 BMW three 325XI. If you need this part or other parts for your vehicle, click the link in the description and head over to 1AAuto.com. I raised the vehicle. We're using a two post lift. If you're doing this at your house you can use a jack and jack stands. I'm going to remove the tire to gain extra access. It's going to make it a little bit easier. I'm going to use a 17 millimeter socket and an air gun. You could always use a breaker bar.
Take these lug nuts out or lug studs out. When I get to the last one, I'm just going to hold the wheel so it doesn't fall. Take the last one out. Grab the wheel, pull it off. I want to loosen up this nut on the link right here. I'm just going to spray some rust penetrant on the nut to help loosen it up. I'll take a 16 millimeter socket and a ratchet and I'm going to loosen it first and then I'm going to switch to a wrench. I just turned the wheel a little bit to gain access to this nut so that I can use a 16 millimeter wrench on the nut. And I'm going to hold the stud with a T27 socket and a ratchet, check to see if a T30 fits. This one may be rusted and that's why it's a T27. This one fits. That'll hold the stud. Okay.
After awhile I was able to get the T30 on the stud. I think it was just rusted. That's why it wouldn't go on originally. Loosened up that nut. Take that off there. Take the nut off so you can slide this stud out. I'm going to take a 16 millimeter wrench. I'm going to loosen this nut up on the bottom right here first and once the stud starts spinning then I'm going to take a T30 and a ratchet. And then prevent the stud from spinning. Yup.
And then just loosen this up. Take that bottom nut off, and get that nut off, and then slide the link out. Here's the old one. Here's the new sway bar link from 1AAuto.com. Comes with new nuts. It's got the same length. It's got the same ball and socket design. The nice thing about the stud instead of where you put a T30 bit in there you can actually use a wrench which makes it a lot easier. You put a wrench on the backside and then you can put a socket. It makes torquing it a lot easier as well. Get yours at 1AAuto.com and you can do it yourself.
Take the new sway bar link and from the outside of the vehicle we want the stud going in on the bottom just like that. Get the new nut, get the new nut started, take a 14 millimeter wrench. We're going to put that on the inside of the stud and then a 15 millimeter socket on a ratchet. We'll tighten up this nut. And I'm going to keep that wrench on there and with a torque wrench I'm going to torque this to 47 foot pounds. Take the sway bar link, slide that in position. Take a 14 millimeter wrench. Put it on the backside on the stud. Take the nut, get the nut started. Take a 15 millimeter socket and ratchet. Tighten this up. Then use the torque wrench and torque this nut to 47 foot pounds.
Now I'm going to put the wheel on. Just line up the holes. Take one of the lug studs, get that started, and then I can grab the other ones. I'll just tighten these down and then I'm going to lower the vehicle and torque them. All right. Now I'm going to use the 17 millimeter socket and a torque wrench. I'm going to torque these lug bolts to 95 foot pounds. I'm going to torque them in a star pattern so that the wheel gets tightened down evenly. Then I'm just going to go around again, just double check. I'm good to go.
Thanks for watching. If you want the parts to do it yourself, check out 1AAuto.com the place for DIY auto repair.
Shop Products
2001-05 BMW 325Xi 330Xi Front Driver & Passenger Side 2 Piece Sway Bar Link Set TRQ PSA55669
Part Details:
- 2 Piece
- (1) Front Passenger Side Sway Bar Link
- (1) Front Driver Side Sway Bar Link
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